WHAT HAPPENED
We fell to a disappointing defeat to Swansea on Monday night, despite Charlies Gilmour’s second-half strike.
The hosts moved into an early lead through George Byers, who volleyed the ball in on the rebound from close range.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, the Swans very nearly doubled their advantage, when Oliver McBurnie crashed a header off the frame of the goal.
Ten minutes later, Byers almost bagged a second when his powerful strike pinged off the post. Soon after, he did it once again, flicking a looping header over Hugo Keto and off the crossbar.
We kicked off the second half with renewed hope, and quickly had our first opportunity of the match through Gilmour, whose side-footed effort was blocked inside the penalty area.
On the hour mark Vlad Dragomir came close, when he spun his man and poked the ball at goal, only to be denied by the onrushing Gregor Zabret.
A few moments later, we were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Gilmour, after Dragomir and Tyreece John-Jules were involved in a collision with Zabret in the six-yard box.
With full-time nearing, we pushed for a winner and almost found the breakthrough through Emile Smith Rowe, who had two opportunities in quick succession.
But six minutes from time Byers struck for Swansea, poking the ball home from close range against the run of play, and then Kenji Gorre added a third, firing in after a swift counter from the hosts.
WHAT IT MEANS
Defeat sees us remain in fifth place, a point behind Leicester City and West Ham.
WHAT’S NEXT
We host West Ham at Meadow Park in our next fixture and will be keen to maintain our strong home form.
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